Doyle breaks Limerick hearts
Having taken an 0-8 to 0-5 lead into half-time, the home side was clinging to a one point advantage — 0-10 to 0-9 — in the face of mounting pressure by Kildare and Doyle’s goal gave his side the necessary spur to go on and win a pulsating contest.
Apart from the opening 15 minutes during which the sides were level twice, Kildare struggled to contain a Limerick team who, urged on by a crowd of 8,500, were keen to build on last week’s thrashing of Meath.
Superbly led by John Galvin at midfield, Limerick raced into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes and Kildare were on the rack. However the scores didn’t come as freely as they did the previous Saturday night and after Ken Donnelly kicked a point — his side’s first score for 13 minutes play — only a point separated the sides after 25 minutes when Pádraig O’Neill landed his side’s fifth point.
Kildare might have been level but some dreadful shooting cost them several scores before Limerick finished the half strongly to lead 0-8 to 0-5. But it should have been more. Stephen Lavin kicked a long ball into the Kildare corner and in a race for possession, Ian Ryan got there ahead of the ‘keeper but after doing all the hard work, his shot went across the face of the empty net and wide with the Enda Murphy stranded.
Kildare coach Kieran McGeeney said his side wasted a lot of chances in that opening half and was afraid they would come back to haunt his team.
“Thankfully it didn’t. The lads stuck at it and I’m delighted for everybody associated with the team that we are still in the All-Ireland title race.
“There was nothing spectacular about our win. It was a very workmanlike performance by all the players who took part. I don’t know what kind of a game it was like to watch, but for me it was exhilarating, the kind of game you would love to play in.
“Our second half performance was excellent. We got a couple of them during the year, against Donegal and Kerry, but didn’t get the result. Tonight we did and go the scores to go with it.
“Johnny Doyle’s goal was superbly taken but the unselfish play of James Kavanagh and Michael Conway in the build up to the score was crucial.”
Limerick had stormed into a four point early in the second half but fatigue began to creep in and on two occasions defenders gave possession away and were severely punished by a Kildare side that seemed to find a new lease of life after their captain Kieran Brennan was taken off and James Kavanagh went out to partner Dermot Earley at midfield.
Earley frustrated John Galvin by punching the football away from him and with Eamon Callaghan and Kavanagh picking up a lot of loose ball around the middle, the tide began to turn.
There appeared to be no danger as Jim Donovan made his way out of the Limerick defence but he was dispossessed and in a splendid two man move the ball was played into the unmarked John Doyle who gave Sean Kiely no chance.
That goal put the Lilywhites in front for the first time in over 50 minutes and roared on by their huge following, they finished the game with points by Doyle and Gary White to keep their titles hopes on course.
“This is the first time since the qualifiers started that Kildare have won a second round match and that has to be good for confidence,” McGeeney pointed out.
“We are going into unknown territory now and we’ll see what happens from here on. The victory and the manner in which we achieved it should give everyone a big boost with another big game coming up next week.”
For Limerick coach Mickey O’Sullivan it’s the end of a long three years in charge, but he was non committal as to his future with the team. “We had the chances to win it but it wasn’t to be our day. Fair play to Kildare they worked extremely hard and came very strongly towards the end,” said O’Sullivan.
“I’m extremely proud of the efforts our lads made. They gave it their all but came up that bit short. We had a lot of injuries because of the closeness of the games, but I’m not making that an excuse for our defeat.”
Refusing to be critical of Ian Ryan and his goal miss coming up to half time, O’Sullivan said: “On another day Ian could put the ball in the net with his eyes closed, but that’s football.
“I’m happy with the progress the team has made since I came in. We are coming from a very low base, but I would like to think people will now sit up and take notice of Limerick football.
“I’ve completed my three-year term. It’s up to the powers that be to decide what the future holds. I’ll have to sit down and talk with the backroom team before making any decision about my future involvement.”
Scorers for Kildare: J. Doyle 1-6 (0-3 frees, 0-1 45); K. Donnelly, P. O'Neill, J. Kavanagh, N. Conway, G. White 0-1 3 each.
Limerick: I. Ryan 0-5 (frees); S. Buckley 0-2; H. Galvin, S. Lavin, J. Ryan, J. Donovan 0-1 each.
KILDARE: E. Murphy; M. O'Flaherty, K. O'Neill, A. McLoughlin; E. Bolton, M. Foley, M. Scanlon; K. Brennan, D. Earley; J. Kavanagh, P. O'Neill, E. Callaghan; A. Smyth, K. Donnelly, J. Doyle.
Subs: D. Flynn for Brennan (half time); G. White for O'Neill (42); M. Conway for Smyth (43); A. Rainbow for Bolton (61); D. Lyons for Donnelly (70th).
LIMERICK: S. Kiely; D. Carroll, J. McCarthy, S. Gallagher; P. Browne, S. Lavin, P. Ranahan; J. Donovan, J. Galvin; S. Kelly, J. Ryan, S. Buckley; G. Collins, M. Crowley, I. Ryan.
Subs: L. O'Dwyer for Browne (53); G. Noonan for Kelly (53); J. Cooke for Noonan (66); S. Kelly for Donovan (70).
Referee: S. Doyle (Wexford).
Attendance: 8,500.
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